In this essay, I will discuss O’Connor’s short story, “Good Country People”. Superficially, the story shows that Hulga is a loyal atheist. Deeper insight gained from close reading reveals, however, that the story concerns Hulga’s weak connection to atheism and shows her branching out to nihilism, to the ideas of Malebranche, as well as Christianity. I will prove this thesis using principles of reading such as contradiction, referencing and repetition.
In a rural setting, Mrs. Hopewell runs a family farm with the help of her tenants, Mr. and Mrs. Freeman (272). Hulga-Joy, Mrs. Hopewell’s daughter also lives there. Hulga’s name was Joy but she legally changed it in spite of her mother Mrs. Hopewell. Hulga is handicapped with a wooden leg and diagnosed with a weak heart (276). Hulga left home in order to educate herself and received …show more content…
Hopewell. Hulga was shocked to realize that Manley wasn’t a good Christian like she expected, “You’re a fine Christian! You’re just like them all-- say one thing and do another. You’re a perfect Christian, you’re…” (290). This may hint at the idea that Hulga is partly Christian like her mother. This line could also show how naive Hulga is and that she doesn’t understand her beliefs well enough to realize that Manley Pointer was a nihilist similar to Hulga. Manley was a true atheist/nihilist, in comparison to Hulga they are completely different. This leads me to conclude that Hulga has her own beliefs inspired by multiple philosophical ideas such as Malebranche's and Nietzsche’s as well as the Christian belief similar to her mother Mrs. Hopewell. Throughout the short story Hulga contradicts her atheist belief with other ideas. Hulga is not a true atheist, because of her education, she exposed herself to lots of different ideas from multiple philosophers and Christianity resulting in her own ideology about herself and the
In a rural setting, Mrs. Hopewell runs a family farm with the help of her tenants, Mr. and Mrs. Freeman (272). Hulga-Joy, Mrs. Hopewell’s daughter also lives there. Hulga’s name was Joy but she legally changed it in spite of her mother Mrs. Hopewell. Hulga is handicapped with a wooden leg and diagnosed with a weak heart (276). Hulga left home in order to educate herself and received …show more content…
Hopewell. Hulga was shocked to realize that Manley wasn’t a good Christian like she expected, “You’re a fine Christian! You’re just like them all-- say one thing and do another. You’re a perfect Christian, you’re…” (290). This may hint at the idea that Hulga is partly Christian like her mother. This line could also show how naive Hulga is and that she doesn’t understand her beliefs well enough to realize that Manley Pointer was a nihilist similar to Hulga. Manley was a true atheist/nihilist, in comparison to Hulga they are completely different. This leads me to conclude that Hulga has her own beliefs inspired by multiple philosophical ideas such as Malebranche's and Nietzsche’s as well as the Christian belief similar to her mother Mrs. Hopewell. Throughout the short story Hulga contradicts her atheist belief with other ideas. Hulga is not a true atheist, because of her education, she exposed herself to lots of different ideas from multiple philosophers and Christianity resulting in her own ideology about herself and the